It’s always been the case that Donald Trump only has the power we give to him. Once we all collectively stop paying attention to his threats, his tantrums, his derangement, you can see pretty easily that it’s all sound and fury, signifying nothing. Unfortunately, most of the Republican Party is still in the toxic cycle of giving Trump power of them. So they’re all still beholden to his scattered whims, terrified that he’ll do something against them, he’ll set them up to be primaried, or he’ll form his own MAGA Party. Trump’s threats of setting up his own MAGA Party – or Patriot Party – reemerged again this weekend, with Trumpers allegedly threatening elected Republicans with primary challenges yet again. So what do we make of this?
A top political aide to former President Donald Trump spent the weekend quietly reassuring Republican senators that the former president has no plans to start a third party — and instead will keep his imprint on the GOP. The message from Brian Jack, Trump’s former political director at the White House, is the latest sign that Republicans considering an impeachment conviction will do so knowing that Trump may come after them in upcoming primaries if they vote to convict him for “incitement of insurrection.”
Jack did not mention impeachment in his calls. But he wanted the word to get around that Trump is still a Republican — and for many, still the leader of his party.
“The president wanted me to know, as well as a handful of others, that the president is a Republican, he is not starting a third party and that anything he would do politically in the future would be as a Republican,” recounted Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.). “The Republican Party is still overwhelmingly supportive of this president.”
On Monday evening, Trump’s second impeachment trial began unfolding — and Republicans started deliberating in earnest over how, or even whether, to defend the president. The trial will test how loyal Republican senators will remain to the former president following his departure from the White House and what kind of grip he still maintains on the GOP conference. While most Senate Republicans are not expected to vote to convict Trump, almost no one has defended his rhetoric after a riot that left five dead and the Capitol ransacked.
Ah, yes, a loyalty test for Republicans and NOT a loyalty test for Americans. The Jan. 6th insurrection was the most un-American thing I’ve ever witnessed – a bunch of armed lunatics laying siege to the Capitol, smearing feces on the walls, murdering a police officer and trying to assassinate elected leaders. But now it’s all just a “loyalty test” for Republicans. These pencil d–k douchebags are still so terrified of Trump and his little treasonous baby fists. It’s pathetic.
Meanwhile, Trump has opened up “The Office of the Former President.” I wonder if this press release was his work-around for getting back on social media? Will Twitter allow him back on if it’s through an “office of the Former President” account?
Statement from the Office of the Former President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/UQLu9kURIr
— Kyle Mazza (@KyleMazzaWUNF) January 26, 2021
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.
You know… if we ignore The Office of the Former President, it doesn’t actually have any power. I’ll do my best to ignore him, only to pay attention when he’s in handcuffs, on trial, and in prison.
Office of the Former President. Does that mean we have no other former presidents? We should all call the office and ask for Clinton and Obama.
LOL Stella that is a funny idea
My friends and I have been saying the same!
He’ll never gain the ground he had before. Honestly, I still maintain that he’s going to sunset, whether he likes it or not.
I hope you’re right, but I truly believe it’s a cult at this point. Those people who stormed the capitol were ready to die for him. There are people out there saying they think he’s a savior sent by god to save America. There are A LOT of people who truly believe that democracy is dead because he lost. He appeals to fringe people, and hateful horrible human beings who felt like they were finally able to be themselves in public. Sadly, a lot of those people are dangerous and genuinely unwell mentally. They also own a lot of guns legally because…. that’s America.
This is how Hitler gained traction. Because he appealed to the downtrodden and those who thought they were ignored. They fervently believed in his message and they were fiercely devoted to him.
If they’re smart, they’ll make it impossible for him to run again. Any Republican that’s against this impeachment needs to be remembered so that they can be voted out, because that is them sending a very clear message that they don’t care about this country, they just want power. They’ll be more than happy to embrace Trump and any scum who supports him as long as it means they’re in control.
It’s terrifying to me how many Republicans are tickled by Trump’s cult-like following and how badly they want a piece of it for themselves. All of those scumbags who challenged the election results should be removed from office. This country is really playing with fire by not doing more to hold these people accountable. Too many people are too quick to say “It’ll never happen here” — we shouldn’t be so sure anymore.
Anilehcim, I saw an interview from the Billy Graham organization. That individual said that the Evangelicals had work before them to remind their congregations that Jesus is their God and that in the bible it says Jesus is truth. Also, he said that they have done a poor job of teaching critical thinking (ya think?). So, I think we’re going to see the Evangelicals try to get their flock back to their beliefs before Trump became a demigod. That’s going to take a lot of work, but if they can do that I think Trump will be losing a lot of his sheep.
Agreed. This doesn’t have to be a thing. I would find it pathetic except that people actually believe that he is still the legit president and will confer importance on this. We have to push back on this sh^t at every turn or he will never go away.
Believe nothing djt says.
And it IS a cult, but it’s a diminishing cult.
They are stupid enough to believe him.
I tend to agree. Then when Republicans spare him from from an impeachment conviction, he will start his 3rd party.
Good. The 38% that make up his insane base of xenophobic, racist, MAGAts will be enough to split the party from the more middle of the road Rs who voted for Biden.
Yes, I bet he’s using this as leverage.
Some things:
1. Office of the Former President is not a thing.
2. He’s just trying to hijack Biden’s spotlight.
3. He should be sued for copyright violation re: the Presidential seal. It’s not his to use. And while this version isn’t an exact duplicate, it’s close enough to be considered plagiarism.
Yes to all of this. It makes my blood boil. He has zero interest in using his platform for anything but grift and further chaos.
He reminds me of a spoiled child. Stunned growth emotionally. Good Lord this, this, this – monster. And I don’t trust him at all and if the GOP does, well than, I would say they are idiots but we already know they are – except for a select few
Well, it’s not like Donald Trump has a history of lying and of betraying anyone who’s ever helped him.
He will say whatever to avoid losing the trial. He needs that win to bolster himself and his future prospects.
I would hope most Republicans have realized he cannot be trusted and will not keep any promises. Being acquitted again would embolden him, as it did last time, and he will get even worse.
I’m hoping most Republicans are just talking game and that they know the trial will show enough to justify their conviction votes, so they’re waiting for that to flip.
most republicans are Charlie Brown and 45 is Lucy with the football.
EXACTLY!!!!! PERFECT analogy!
OG Jan I’m glad someone understood that as it’s an OLD reference.
yeah, I’m old. lol
A lot of them are also worried about physical threats to themselves and their families from the lunatics who support Trump if they don’t support him.
The GOP route seems more lucrative. It costs a lot of money to start a new party and The Base is made up of lots of poor people. His credit is nonexistent and there doesn’t seem to be any foreign money coming in, not like it used to anyway. Trump can’t afford a MAGA party and the GOP is still playing ball so why not stick with them?
Also, trump is facing those charges in New York, his ginormous loans are coming due, he will likely be evicted from Mar-a-Lago, and he has a looming senate conviction. He’ll be a tad too busy to work with all his supporters that he hates. Nothing good on the horizon.
Office of the Former President…hmm, sounds a bit like Assistant to the Regional Manager.
Ha! Totally!
Why isn’t he in jail?
Oh he is totally doing it. He lies as easily as he breathes. He is using this to try and manipulate the Impeachment, and the minute that is done, he is totally starting his MAGA Party.
Of course he is. He truly thinks he’s sly. The question is, will the GOP after four straight years of his lies and insults, still believe him? How many honestly believe he is a threat to their future? There was a senator who’s wife Trump called ugly and he was still loyal to him.
Trump will stoop to ANYTHING that will bring in money. Merch, a radio show or podcast to spew hate and galvanize the deplorables. Steven Miller can be his co-host, and millions of subscribers will tune in to hear T’s greatest hits and see him do that pathetic dance. I hope SIRIUS XM will turn him down, if he comes crawling on his lardbelly.
If the GOP doesn’t convict him then he can run again as Republican. Not a great bargain. But the GOP were the fools that let him, a lifelong Democrat, run as a Republican in 2016. They haven’t shown, shall we say, foresight.
I believe he would love to start his own party that was all about him, but I’m guessing he doesn’t have the cash or rich enough donors to get him the money needed to start one, he did make millions on pardons and golf trips on his own properties, but I’m assuming it would take billions to start a party.
There is fear he may run again for president, especially if he wins the impeachment trial. But what if he is convicted on other state charges? Won’t that stop him from running for prez again?
Surprisingly, federal law would not prohibit him from running even if he’d been convicted of a felony. As to state charges, again, a conviction in itself would not keep him from running. Of course, if he’s in jail, campaigning would be a non-starter!
This is literally a page out of Hitler’s playbook and it’s fucking disturbing to me that so many Americans are totally cool to just go right along with it.
Is this the closest we’ve ever gotten as a country to fascism? It’s been 4 years of endless bullshit but it truly never ceases to amaze me.
I live in a very blue state, but a distant neighbor down the street has a flag pole in front of his house with a Trump 2020 flag flying and an American flag flying upside down beneath it. Because apparently he’s under such distress that his choice of presidential candidate didn’t win. I hope the fucking pole falls on his house.